The operating company of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd, took out an advertisement in The Star hoping to find the owner of three Boeing 747-200F's parked at the airport. Authorities have tried tracing the registrations to an owner but have not been able to identify one. If the airplanes aren't claimed within 14 days, the airport has the right to "sell or to set off any expenses and debt due to us under the [Malaysian Civil Aviation Act of… (m.themalaymailonline.com) עוד...

This happens more than you would believe. I think almost every airport has had to deal with an abandoned aircraft or two over the years. Foreclosures, deaths, government seizures, bankruptcies, the aircraft just get forgotten about and it soon becomes difficult to even figure who owns it anymore.

I don't doubt it. This situation is just entertaining for a few reasons:

1. A small propeller plane is one thing to forget about, but 3 747's? Now that's a totally different situation.2. They took out an ad in a newspaper (Not saying I wouldn't do the same, it's just amusing)3. What was it like when the airport authorities realized that nobody had tended to the planes in a while? Just imagine that conversation...

The ad in the paper is probably legal public notice they have to give before they can legally declare the aircraft abandoned and have it removed. I once worked at an airport that had a fleet of Martin 404s abandoned. Rumor was the DEA or some other government agency had taken down the entire business due to some illegal dealings, and never dealt with the aircraft. The airport after many years was able to clear the deed on the aircraft and have them scrapped.

“If you fail to collect the aircraft within 14 days of the date of this notice, we reserve the right to sell or otherwise dispose of the aircraft pursuant to the Civil Aviation Regulations 1996 and use the money raised to set off any expenses and debt due to us under the said regulations,”